Spinal surgery system and method
First Claim
1. An apparatus for use in performing a minimally invasive spinal surgical procedure via a pair of bilateral stab wounds on either side of a subject region of the spine of a patient, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) a first hollow rigid tube having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end for insertion through a first of the stab wounds;
(b) a second hollow rigid tube having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end for insertion through a second stab wound in the back of a patient;
(c) a rigid coupling for rigidly coupling said first and second tubes such that said tubes converge towards said distal ends but maintain a predefined gap between said distal ends; and
(d) an elongated flexible guide element for deployment so as to extend through said first hollow tube from said proximal end to said distal end, to traverse said gap and to extend through said second hollow tube from said distal end to said proximal end.
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Abstract
Apparatus and method for minimally invasive spinal surgery employs an elongated flexible guide element inserted so as to pass in through a first lateral posterior incision, through the spinal column anterior to the spinal cord, and out through a second lateral posterior incision contralateral to said first incision. The guide element is used to guide various elements to a desired position within the spinal column as part of the surgical procedure. Preferably, two hollow rigid tubes rigidly coupled outside the body in converging relation are used to define a working gap within the spinal column through which the guide element passes. This provides a platform for manipulation of tissues and introduction of implants anterior to the spinal cord. Procedures described include reinforcement of a degenerative intervertebral disc and restoration of a damaged vertebral body.
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Citations
51 Claims
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1. An apparatus for use in performing a minimally invasive spinal surgical procedure via a pair of bilateral stab wounds on either side of a subject region of the spine of a patient, the apparatus comprising:
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(a) a first hollow rigid tube having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end for insertion through a first of the stab wounds;
(b) a second hollow rigid tube having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end for insertion through a second stab wound in the back of a patient;
(c) a rigid coupling for rigidly coupling said first and second tubes such that said tubes converge towards said distal ends but maintain a predefined gap between said distal ends; and
(d) an elongated flexible guide element for deployment so as to extend through said first hollow tube from said proximal end to said distal end, to traverse said gap and to extend through said second hollow tube from said distal end to said proximal end. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for performing a minimally invasive spinal surgical procedure, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) inserting an elongated flexible guide element such that said guide element passes in through a first lateral posterior incision, passes through the spinal column anterior to the spinal cord, and passes out through a second lateral posterior incision contralateral to said first incision; and
(b) employing said guide element to guide at least one element to a desired position within the spinal column as part of the surgical procedure. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A method for repairing an intervertebral disc having a nucleus, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) positioning a net element within the nucleus of the disc, said net element having openings sufficiently large to permit penetration of tissue cells;
(b) introducing into the net element a plurality of beads of material chosen to have surface properties which encourage generation of scar tissue, said beads having dimensions greater than said openings in said net element so as to be retained by said net element;
(c) sealing said net element so as to prevent release of said beads; and
(d) leaving said net element and said beads in position to allow generation of scar tissue on surfaces of said beads. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. A method for restoration of a damaged vertebral body, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) employing a directional tissue compression device to apply pressure to a transverse slice of tissue within the vertebral body so as to form a cavity;
(b) introducing into said cavity an expandably fillable element and partially inflating said expandably fillable element with a filling material so as to deploy said expandably fillable element within said cavity; and
(c) further inflating said expandably fillable element so as to increase a height dimension of the vertebral body. - View Dependent Claims (51)
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Specification